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Report: New York Mets Interested in Free Agent Closer Brian Wilson

January 14th, 2013 at 5:14 PM By Mike Phillips

One area of concern for the New York Mets is their bullpen. The unit was a disaster in 2011, and the team enters 2012 with Frank Francisco hanging onto the closers job by a thread as well as having a host of young options to fill out the pen. The team would like to sign a veteran or two to compliment the young pitchers, and it appears one target could be former Giants closer Brian Wilson. General Manager Sandy Alderson watched a private workout of Wilson's this weekend, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports via Twitter. Wilson remains unsigned after missing the majority of last season following Tommy John surgery in April. Wilson was non-tendered by the Giants early in the offseason and the exact state of his recovery is a mystery, which would explain the private workout for Alderson. Wilson, if healthy, could provide a tremendous upgrade to the Mets bullpen and immediately challenge Frank Francisco for the closer's job.

Wilson is an eccentric character who has proven he can handle pressure, having anchored the Giants bullpen during the team's 2010 World Series run. The Mets are willing to sign him to a minor league deal at the moment, but Wilson appears willing to hold out for a major league contract. The market for him is not moving rapidly, so the Mets will remain in a holding pattern with Wilson. The Mets have been seemingly doing this slow dance with a lot of free agents this offseason, hoping someone comes down to their terms of deals. The process may indeed work by spring training, but as of right now the Mets remain the only team in Major League Baseball that hasn't signed a big league free agent.

Do you think the Mets should sign Brian Wilson? Let us know what you think in a comment.